Coin slide latch and caliper assembly



March 25, 1969 M. A. HALL COIN SLIDE LATCH AND CALIPER ASSEMBLY Sheet of 2 Filed Dec.

T A A L L E H C W M March 25, 1969 M. A. HALL 3,434,578

COIN SLIDE LATCH AND CALIPER ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 4, 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 72 I MN .I

INVENTOR MITCHELL A. HALL US. Cl. 194-92 30 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The reciprocable coin slide plate carries a latch keeper to be engaged by a movable latch, for limiting advancement of the slide plate whenever a coin or slug advanced by the slide plate fails to satisfy a calipering test. A calipering means includes a single length of resilient stainless steel wire bent to establish a pivotal end portion, an opposite free end, or sweep end, and an intermediate portion, the latter portion being bent and shaped to provide a calipering head comprising two parallel wire sections spaced apart to receive therebetween a coin to be calipered. If the coin proves acceptable, the calipering head Lmay rock about the pivotal end portion of the wire, thereby to impart a swinging motion to the sweep end of the wire, which, translated to the movable latch, conditions the latch for keeper disengagement upon advancement of the slide plate. Proper control of the latch depends upon the ability of the wire to flex temporarily in all directions laterally of the length of the wire, particularly at the sweep end thereof.

The present invention relates to a coin slide latch and caliper assembly, and involves a coin slide construction as disclosed generally in my issued US. Patent No. 3,137,378, dated June 16, 1964, and in my copending application Docket No. SK-l0,524, filed of even date herewith.

The construction involves principally an improved coin caliper and means associated therewith for latching the slide plate against full advancement whenever spurious coins, or no coins, are inserted in the coin aperture or apertures of the slide plate. The slide plate, in accordance with accepted practice, has one or more coin-receptive apertures formed therein, in which a patron may deposit coins or tokens to be advanced by the coin slide for actuating a vending machine or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of means to caliper a coin or token advanced by the slide plate, for determining acceptability or non-acceptability of the coin or token before permitting a full advancement of the slide plate to operative position.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the coincalipering means, and improve the performance thereof, while at the same time effecting great economies in manufacture and assembly of the coin slide.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved calipering means and latch actuator which is selfcleaning and extraordinarily free of servicing requirements when incorporated in a coin slide.

Another object is to provide in a coin slide construction, improved coin-calipering and slide plate latching means which will effectively withstand the mistreatment and abuse to which coin-controlled equipment is often subjected when exposed to public use and adverse atmospheric conditions.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to enhance the performance, durability, accuracy, and economy of manufacture of a latch actuator and calipering element, by forming said element from a single piece of flexible and resilient spring wire, preferably of stainless steel, and uniformly circular in cross-sectional shape, with States Patent the elimination of small or delicate parts ditlicult to assemble or replace.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a coin slide incorporating the \means of the present invention, the slide plate being shown latched in partly advanced position; from this view are omitted various elements having no pertinency to the means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the device of FIG. 1, and showing the slide plate in fully retracted position.

FIG. 3 is an end view, looking from left to right on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the FIG. 2 assembly, certain parts being omitted.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 4 in perspective, showing coins undergoing calipering.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, the coins being omitted.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-section taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIG. 5, and showing a proper or acceptable coin undergoing calipering.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing "a spurious thin coin or slug undergoing calipering.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing a spurious thick coin or slug undergoing calipering.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a latch actuator and calipering element, per se, embodying the teachings of the present invention.

In all the drawing views, the reference numeral 24 indicates a coin slide plate or slider, which is longitudinally reciprocable relative to a stationary body member 26, between a fully retracted position and a position of full advancement. In the fully retracted position of the slide plate, one or more coins may be deposited in exposed apertures 20, 22 of the slide plate, FIG. 2 for advancement with the slide plate toward the position of full advancement of the slide plate. The slide plate upon full advancement thereof may initiate operation of a machine which vends an article or a service as is customary, and as explained in my issued US. Patent 3,137,- 378 aforesaid.

Coins advanced by the slide plate may be subjected to a series of tests which determine acceptability of the coins, and should the coins prove unacceptable under test, they will be rejected and the slide plate will be latched in an intermediate position of advancement to preclude actuation of the vending machine associated therewith.

All of the foregoing is common practice in the art generally, and various forms of mechanisms have been employed more or less successfully to test coins or slugs and to prevent full advancement of the slide plate in the event that the coins or slugs prove unacceptable under test.

In accordance with the present invention, the slide plate 24 may be provided with an opening 28 similar to the opening 38 of my aformentioned patent disclosure, said opening 28 providing an abutment edge or keeper 30 adapted for engagement by a tooth 32 of one or more pivoted latches 36, 36, to stop the slide plate movement short of full advancement. Either of the latches, or both of them, may so stop the slide plate 24, but if neither engages the abutment or keeper 30, the slide plate may be moved to a position of full advancement. On the other hand, if either latch engages the keeper, the slide plate will be latched thereby in a position short of full advancement.

The latches 34 and 36 may be pivoted at 38 (FIG. upon body member 26, or upon a stationary part thereof, so that the latches individually may be rocked upon pivot 38 into or out of engagement with slide plate keeper when opening 28 registers with the latch locations as the result of slide plate advancement to the left in FIG. 10. As will be understood, slide plate reciprocative movements may be effected by means of a handle 40 formed on one end of the slide plate. In FIG. 1, the slide plate is shown partially advanced, with latches 34 and 36 engaging the keeper 30. FIG. 10 shows the latch 34 resting against slide plate 24, while pening 28 is out of registry with the latch.

Each latch 34 and 36 may be provided with an actuator head 44, which may be in the form of a laterally extended flat plate having a slot 46 formed therein. Plate or head 44 extends laterally from the major axis of the latch, in a direction opposite to the direction of extension of tooth 32, FIG. 10. The slots 46 of the latch heads loosely accommodate the swingable free ends 45,

45 of the latch actuators 48 and (FIG. 3). Slots 46, as shown, may be elongate and disposed obliquely to the mean plane of slide plate 24, so that movement of the ends 45, 45 away from each other, (in FIG. 3 for example), will produce a camming effect upon the latch heads tending to lift the latches away from the plane of slide plate 24. Thus it is apparent that lateral movements of the swingable or sweep ends 45 of the latch actuators, are by the cams 46 translated into transverse movements of the latches 34, 36 about pivot 38, this being particularly evident when the latches are in register with slide plate opening 28.

The latch actuators 48 and 50 are formed of elongate pieces of rather stitf but springy wire, of such character that the free ends or sweep end portions 45 are flexible and resilient in all directions laterally of the length of the wire piece. Each latch actuator is formed wholly of a single wire piece, and is characterized by a sweep end 45, a pivotal end portion 52, and a portion intermediate which may be bent upon head 54. Between the head 54 and the sweep end 45, the wire body of the latch actuator may be substantially straight, so as to form in effect a caliper arm having a sweep end 45.

The pivotal end portion 52 of the wire actuator is disposed at a substantial right angle to the caliper arm portion thereof, thereby to provide for pivotal or rockable mounting of the actuator relative to the body member of the coin slide. The pivotal end portion 52 is loosely journaled in a sleeve bearing 56 the axis of which 0 may be disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of slide plate reciprocation.

The sleeve bearings 56 may be fixed at adjusted distances from the stationary rails 58, 58 which guide the coins C into position for calipering by the calipering heads 54. To provide for the desired adjustment, the sleeve bearing 56 may be carried by an adjustment bracket 60 having a pivotal connection at 62 upon a caliper support plate 64. A locking screw 66 anchors the bracket upon plate 64 in adjusted positions. Plate 64 bears a fixed relationship to body member 26, and serves to support the coins C as in FIG. 5 while the coins undergo calipering during advancement by the slide plate. Plate 64 is spaced from body member 26 to provide a channel 68 (FIG. 10), in which coins may advance to the calipering head 54.

It may here be noted that caliper support plate 64 is a part that readily may be disassociated from body member 26, as by removal of a screw 65 which passes through an opening 67 of the plate and threads into the material of the body member. The caliper support plate, considered separate from the body member, carries the rails 58, 58, the adjustable brackets 60, 60, and the latch actuator-caliper mechanism (FIGS. 4, 5, 6), leaving intact and undisturbed the adjustments of all movable itself to provide a calipering parts, so that the assembled unit as disclosed by FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 may be quickly and easily mounted upon a coin slide body member such as 26, or dismounted therefrom, as a separate unitary structure. By this means, conversions and parts replacements may be effected with ease and despatch.

Calipering head 54 may be produced by bending the wire, such as 48, upon itself to present two parallel sections 70 and 72 accurately spaced from one another to guage a coin or slug presented thereto, as best illustrated by FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 7 shows a proper or acceptable coin C presented to the calipering head 54. It is noted that an edge of the proper coin partly enters the space between the parallel sections 70 and 72, by a predetermined amount established by a very accurate bending of the wire constituting the head. A proper coin in accordance with FIG. 7, backed up by rail 58, will impinge upon head 54 to rotate it upon pivot 52, by a predetermined amount such as is necessary for moving the free end 45 (FIG. 3) outwardly, to a limit effecting retraction of its associated latch from the path of slide plate keeper 30. Under such conditions, the latch so retracted will not interfere with movement of slide plate 24 to the fully advanced position.

FIG. 8 shows, on the other hand, a coin C which is unacceptable because it is too thin to meet the caliper test. The thin coin, according to FIG. 8, may enter so far between the spaced sections 70 and 72, as to produce little or no sweep of an actuator end 45, FIG. 3. If an actuator end 45 by reason of insufficient outward sweep fails to fully retract its associated latch 34 or 36, the latch will engage keeper 30 and stop advancement of the slide plate 24 prior to a full advancement of the slide plate. Failure to sufiiciently retract the latch may result also if the coin undergoing calipering is defective by reason of a reduced diametral dimension, since in the event the calipering head 54 would not be rotated about pivot 52 sufficiently to effect latch withdrawal from the path of keeper 30.

FIG. 9 illustrates the effect of presenting an oversize thick coin to the calipering head. The abnormally thick coin will of course fail to enter partially between the parallel wire sections 70 and 72, to the extent that an acceptable coin would enter. Therefore, the thick coin of FIG. 9 will produce an excessive rotational movement of the calipering head about pivot 52, which obviously will outwardly project the wire end 45 to retract the associated latch. Any excess movement of the latch actuator resulting from calipering an abnormally thick coin, or a coin larger in diameter than an acceptable coin, will have no damaging effects upon the calipering means because of the ability of the actuator wire to flex and then return to normal condition following subjection to forces of greater magnitude than are ordinarily required for calipering acceptable coins.

The above-mentioned ability of an oversize coin or slug to successfully retract the slide plate latch, may be overcome by adopting a latch-actuating means which is sensitive to excessive rotational or rocking movement thereof, for precluding a latch retraction. Such a latchactuating means is disclosed in my copending application aforesaid, and involves merely a substitution of means for translating movements of the sweep ends of the latch actuators to the latches. More specifically stated, the latch of the disclosure herein may be discarded in favor of the different latch structures of my copending application, FIGS. 11 through 15, or FIGS. '16 through 21, either of which may readily be incorporated in the coin slrde construction of the instant disclosure, if desired.

It may be noted that a bend 74 made in the wire 48 or 50 adjacent to the calipering head 54, (FIGS. 4, 6 and 7), provides an anchorage for one end of a spring 76 which acts constantly to yieldingly urge the calipering head 54 toward a coin back-stop rail 58, which rail cooperates with a head 54 in the calipering of coins and slugs. The opposite end of said spring may be anchored upon a lug 78 carried by adjustment bracket 60.

In the preferred construction, the actuator elements or arms 48 and 50 cross one another as shown, and to preclude the possibility of frictional drag one upon the other, one of the arms may be permanently bent and offset as at 80.

Attention is now directed to the stationary restraining bar 82, which is fixed to the body member 26 and extends transversely thereof in the region of latch heads 44. Bar 82 includes a straight elongate track 84 along which the sweep end portions 45 of the latch actuators may slide while coins are undergoing calipering. Track 84 is parallel to the plane of slide plate 24, and is so spaced therefrom that the track normally restrains movement of the sweep ends 45 away from the plane of the slide plate.

In assembling the calipering mechanism, it is imperative that the sweep ends 45 of the caliper arms be yieldingly biased against the track 84, so that the arms in moving toward and from one another, may normally slide along the track while shifting the latches toward and from slide plate opening 28. Under certain conditions the caliper arms may flex away from track 84, this being permitted by the resiliency of the arms laterally of their length. For a detailed explanation of the function of the restraining bar and its effect upon the calipering elements and the different forms of latches that may be incorporated in the coin slide structure, reference may be made to my copending application aforesaid. For the purposes of the instant invention, it is sufficient to observe that the sweep ends 45 of the calipering elements shall be constantly yieldingly biased against track 84. This may be accomplished preferably by a proper bending of the wires at their pivotal end portions 52 wherein support is provided by sleeves 56.

The caliper members 48 and 50, unlike those of my aforesaid issued Patent No. 3,137,378, are to be capable of flexation in all directions laterally of their length, this being assured by forming them of a resilient wire or filament. A satisfactory material for the purpose may be tempered spring steel wire about one-sixteenth inch in diameter, having suflicient ductility to retain permanently the several bends which form the calipering head, the pivotal end portion 52, and the bends at 74 and 80. Spring tempered stainless steel wire, Type 303 or 304, diameter about .055", or 54 gauge, is preferred due to its resiliency and resistance to corrosion. While a wire circular in cross-section is preferred, wire of any other crosssectional shape may perform the service required.

As is best illustrated upon FIG. 5, the caliper head loops at 54 may be bent slightly away from their cooperative rails 58, 58, to prevent the coin edge from striking the wire strut which connects the spaced parallel sections 70, 72. Calipering is to be performed only by line contact of the coin edges with wire sections 70, 72, according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The sections 70, 72, being open, do not readily accumulate dirt and foreign matter, and may properly be considered self-cleaning.

By forming the members 48, 50 wholly of resilient wire, great savings are effected in the manufacture and assembly of parts constituting the coin slide. Also, the inherent resiliency of these members ensures against damage or permanent distortion of operating parts in the event of any attempt made to obtain free play by the insertion and manipulation of shims or other implements into the coin slide mechanism. The need for frequent servicing or repairs is thereby eliminated.

Construction of the device herein disclosed may be modified in various respects, particularly :with reference to the slide plate latch structure, several desirable forms of which are disclosed in my copending application aforesaid. Any of the latch structures of my said copending application might readily be substituted for the latch structure of the instant disclosure; and such substitution is to be considered embraced within the scope of the claims appended hereto unless said claims by their terminology are specifically limited to the contrary.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin-controlled device comprising in combination: an elongate slide plate including means to advance a coinlike insert, said slide plate being shifta-ble between an initial position of retraction and a position of full advancement; a body member reciprocably supporting the slide plate in a plane of advancement; a keeper on the slide plate; a latch supported by the body member for movement to engaged and disengaged positions with respect to said keeper, said keeper being so located upon the slide plate that engagement thereof with the latch stops advancement of the slide plate prior to a full advancement of the slide plate; a latch actuator comprising an elongate resilient spring wire flexible in all directions laterally of its length and having a pivotal end portion, an opposite sweep end, and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion of the wire being shaped to provide a calipering head comprising two parallel sections spaced apart for predetermined limited reception therebetween of an edge of an acceptable coin-like insert; means on the body member rockably supporting the pivotal end portion aforesaid; guide means on the body member for directing an insert toward and against the calipering head as the slide plate advances the insert, to rock the pivotal end portion and impart a sweeping motion to the opposite end of the wire; connecting means for translating to the movable latch the sweeping motion of said opposite end of the wire; and means yieldingly biasing the calipering head toward said guide means.

2. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the two parallel spaced-apart sections of the calipering head are formed integrally of the same cross-section of wire that forms the pivotal end section thereof.

3. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the pivotal end portion, the opposite sweep end, and the intermediate portion of the elongate resilient wire including the aforesaid sections of the calipering head, are of a uni form cross-sectional shape and size.

4. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the sweep end of the elongate resilient wire comprising the latch actuator is flexible in all directions laterally of its length.

5. The device as specified by claim 3, wherein the sweep end of the elongate resilient wire is flexible in all directions laterally of its length.

6. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein said elongate resilient spring wire is of stainless steel measuring approximately one-sixteenth inch in thickness.

7. The device as specified by claim 5, wherein said elongated resilient spring wire is of stainless steel measuring approximately one-sixteenth inch in thickness.

8. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the sweep end of the latch actuator is constantly yieldingly biased in a direction away from the plane of the slide plate, and the combination includes restraining means for limiting the extent to which said sweep end may depart from the plane of the slide plate.

9. The device as specified by claim 8, wherein the pivotal end portion, the opposite sweep end, and the intermediate portion of the elongate resilient wire including the aforesaid sections of the calipering head, are of substantially uniform cross-sectional size.

10. The device as specified by claim 9, wherein said elongate resilient Wire is of stainless steel measuring approximately one-sixteenth. inch in thickness.

11. The device as specified by claim 4, wherein the sweep end of the latch actuator is constantly yieldingly biased in a direction away from the plane of the slide plate, and the combination includes restraining means for limiting the extent to which said sweep end may depart from the plane of the slide plate.

12. The device as specified by claim 11, wherein said elongate resilient wire is of a substantially uniform diameter throughout its length.

13. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the body member includes a normally stationary support plate detachably fixed to the body member, said support plate having mounted thereon the aforesaid means rockably supporting the latch actuator, the aforesaid insert guide means, and the aforesaid biasing means for the calipering head.

14. The device as specified by claim 8, wherein the body member includes a normally stationary support plate detachably fixed upon the body member, and upon which support plate are mounted the aforesaid means rockably supporting the latch actuator, the aforesaid insert guide means, and the aforesaid biasing means for the calipering head.

15. The device as specified by claim 8, wherein the body member includes a normally stationary support plate detachably fixed upon the body member, and upon which support plate are mounted the aforesaid means rockably supporting the latch actuator, and the aforesaid biasing means for the calipering head.

16. The device as specified by claim 15, wherein the two parallel spaced-apart sections of the calipering head are formed integrally of the same cross-section of wire that forms the pivotal end section thereof, and wherein the sweep end of the elongate resilient wire is flexible in all directions laterally of its length.

17. The device as specified by claim 16, wherein the sweep end of the latch actuator is constantly yieldingly biased in a direction away from the plane of the slide plate, and the combination includes restraining means for limiting the extent to which said sweep end may depart from the plane of the slide plate.

18. A one-piece latch actuator for controlling engage ment and disengagement of a movable latch with respect to a coin slide plate keeper, said actuator comprising a single length of stiff resilient spring wire having a latchengaging free end portion, a pivotal end portion, and a substantially straight intermediate portion, said pivotal end portion being permanently bent at substantial right angles to the substantially straight intermediate portion to provide a pivot journal about which the latch-engaging end portion may swing with a sweeping motion, the wire adjacent to the pivotal end portion being bent upon itself to form a coin-calipering head comprising a pair of parallel short sections spaced apart to gauge a coin advanced between said sections, said intermediate portion of the wire adjacent to the swingable end portion thereof being resiliently flexible in all directions laterally of its length.

19. The latch actuator as specified by claim 18, wherein is formed a bend in the intermediate portion of the wire adjacent to the calipering head, providing an anchorage for a spring adapted to bias the actuator in one direction about the pivot journal thereof.

20. The latch actuator as specified by claim 18, wherein the parallel short sections of wire constituting the calipering head extend in the general direction of the swingable end portion of the latch actuator.

21. The latch actuator as specified by claim 20, wherein said parallel short sections are joined by a connecting strut, said strut being offset from a plane which includes the coin-calipering areas of said sections.

22. The one-piece latch actuator as specified by claim 20, wherein one of the parallel short sections constituting the calipering head is continguous to and includes the perdmanent bend defining the pivotal end portion aforesai 23. The latch actuator as specified by claim 22, wherein the wire constituting same is of spring tempered stainless steel, Type 303 or 304, whose diameter approximates .055 inch.

24. A latch actuator unit for application to a coin slide body member, said unit comprising in combination: a substantially flat support plate having a coin-supporting face along which a coin may advance, an opposite face, and side edges substantially parallel to the direction of coin advancement; a bracket mounted upon said support plate, said bracket including an elongate bearing sleeve disposed substantially at right angles to said support plate faces; a movable latch actuator comprising a single length of stiff resilient spring wire having a swingable free end, a pivotal end portion, and a substantially straight intermediate portion, said pivotal end portion being permanently bent at substantial right angles to said intermediate portion and providing a pivot journal rockably supported in the bearing sleeve of the bracket, with the free end swingable about said bearing sleeve; the wire adjacent to said pivotal end portion being bent upon itself to form a coin-calipering head comprising a pair of parallel short sections spaced apart to gauge a coin advanced between said sections, said intermediate portion of the wire and said free end thereof being resiliently flexible in all directions laterally of the length of the wire; and means for detachably mounting the support plate upon a coin slide body member.

25. The actuator unit as specified by claim 24, wherein the bracket is adjustable upon the support plate, for disposing the bearing sleeve at selected distances from one of the side edges of the support plate.

26. The actuator unit as specified by claim 25, wherein is included a coin-guiding rail mounted upon the support plate adjacent to said one side edge thereof, for directing an advancing coin into gauging relationship with said calipering head.

27. The actuator unit as specified by claim 24, wherein is included yielding means for yieldingly biasing the pivot journal of the latch actuator in one direction of rotation Within the bearing sleeve.

28. The actuator unit as specified by claim 27, wherein is formed a bend in the intermediate portion of the wire adjacent to the calipering head, providing an anchorage for the yielding means aforesaid.

29. The actuator unit as specified by claim 24, wherein the swingable free end of the latch actuator, and the coin-calipering head thereof, are disposed at opposite sides of the mean plane of the support plate.

30. The actuator unit as specified by claim 26, wherein is included yielding means for constantly yieldingly biasing the coin-calipering head in the general direction of the coin-guiding rail.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,106,278 10/1963 Hall 19492 3,137,328 6/1964 Hall 19492 3,231,059 l/1966 Hall 194-92 3,354,998 11/1967 Hall 194-57 WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

